Dance teacher still out on bail

Prosecutors say dance teacher had fled state, thrown evidence away

By Dennis Yusko Staff writer

Published 12:05 am, Thursday, April 28, 2011

A dance teacher accused of having sexual contact with a young student for years had fled the state and tried to destroy evidence related to a police investigation, Warren County prosecutors said after his arraignment.

Timothy M. McGuire, 49, pleaded not guilty Wednesday to second-degree course of sexual conduct against a child, a felony, and two misdemeanors in County Court.

County Judge John Hall allowed McGuire to remain free on the $12,500 bail that he posted last week despite arguments from county District Attorney Kate Hogan's office that the bail be increased.

"There's more and more victims of this guy coming forward," Hogan said in an interview.

McGuire has operated a dance studio in Glens Falls for 31 years. He was arrested last week after a teenager and former dance student who had lived with him occasionally told police that McGuire had repeated sexual contact with him when he was between the ages of 6 and 12.

Hogan said Wednesday that she asked Hall for a higher bail amount because when police tried to locate McGuire for questioning in the case, the dance instructor fled to Vermont and threw out condoms, pornography and lubrication jelly in a trash container near a fast-food restaurant. Police later recovered the material, Hogan said.

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McGuire also is charged with third-degree sexual abuse and endangering the welfare of a child, both misdemeanors. The alleged abuse occurred from 1998 until 2005, the teen says.

Hogan said this week that she had spoken with three other men who claim that McGuire had sexual contact with them when they were underage students or employees of McGuire's. The cases are too old to prosecute, she said.

Hogan said Wednesday that McGuire had been charged with having sexual contact with a minor in 1983. The case is sealed, but Hogan said that the alleged victim had contacted her office.

The Post Star reported McGuire's attorney, Tucker Stanclift, said he may file a defamation of character lawsuit against his client's accuser for knowingly making false accusations. Attempts to reach Stanclift were unsuccessful.